Spring-Ford School District to add security cameras at Ram Stadium

LIMERICK — A narrow vote cleared the way for the Spring-Ford Area School District to add to its current security system upgrade by installing security cameras at Ram Stadium.

In a 5-4 margin at an Oct. 28 meeting, the Spring-Ford Area School Board voted in favor of including the addition of cameras at the baseball stadium as part of Phase I and II of the district-wide security system upgrade approved in September.

“It’s not that I’m against surveillance,” Dehnert said. “I have a fundamental issue that (there’s) not an overall objective for security in the district.”

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Dehnert and DiBello have maintained since the security system boost was brought up that a better-defined, comprehensive security plan that not only includes surveillance but other security measures. That way, the new surveillance cameras can fit into the plan as opposed to mold the plan.

According to district figures, the cameras at Ram Stadium could cost up to $22,000.

Whether there were any cheaper options available was discussed by the board but it was decided that the current plan was the most reliable when compared to wireless options.

Stephen Reynolds, the director of technology for Spring-Ford, also said the wireless option for cameras was also not much less expensive.

“We went with reliability,” he told the board.

The Spring City American Legion Baseball team could not chip in to the cameras, an idea originally floated when the security system upgrade was pitched and voted upon.

They’re currently using $13,000 they raised for a renovation to the stadium’s infield.

“They’re not able to support (the cameras) at this time,” said Cromley, who attended a recent meeting.

According to Cromley, the Spring City Legion organization contributed $500,000 over the years but can’t support a further project this time around.

The value of Ram Stadium currently stands at $1 million, said Spring-Ford Business Manager Timothy Anspach.

Ciresi posed making it mandatory that any organizations which turn over a property or similar entity to the district pay a mandatory fee over the years to help maintain it. He said it was similar to the mandatory contributions the home and school associations pay to their schools every year.

“I’m not saying we do this or we don’t do this,” Ciresi said. “I’m saying we have a massive asset that we want to secure and pay for. But we also have to take (into account) the cost of that facility is.”

Phase I and II of the security system upgrade were already slated at $206,489 before the addition of the Ram Stadium cameras.

Anspach said at the Sept. 16 meeting when Superintendent David Goodin made his presentation on the project that $300,000 was already in reserve funds for the project.

The security upgrade will come in four phases, with the first two phases including a conversion of the district’s security cameras to a more reliable digital system and install more cameras at secondary education building. Phases III and IV will add cameras to the other schools in the district.

About the Author

Frank Otto is a general assignment reporter covering Phoenixville, Limerick and Spring-Ford schools in addition to features and spot news. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Otto moonlights with the sports department on occasion. Reach the author at fotto@pottsmerc.com
or follow Frank on Twitter: @fottojourno.